New Mexico Mineral Symposium — Abstracts

The minerals from Point of Rocks Mesa in eastern Colfax County, New Mexico were first discussed at the 3rd annual New Mexico Minerals Symposium at Socorro in November of 1982. New discoveries at Point of Rocks Mesa in the intervening months since the 3rd symposium have further enhanced the significance of this unique New Mexico mineral location.

The uncommon species villiaumite, serandite, acmite, searlesite, neptuniteland polylithionite which are found at Point of Rocks were discussed during the 3rd symposium. Since that time, the exceedingly rare sulfide niineral rasvumite has been found plus the more prosaic sulfide minerals, galena, spalerite and pyrrhotite. Eudilyte, cancrinite and natrolite have also been identified as occurring in relative abundance.

Additionally, the first New Mexico occurence of the mineral lorenzenite has been established. These minerals plus-additional unknown species portend that Point of Rocks Mesa will soon rank as one of the most prolific New Mexico locations for mineral species.

Point of Rocks Mesa is located in Colfax County in T26N R26E and appears on the Point of Rocks 7 1/2' topographic quadrangle. The location is about 24 miles east of Springer, New Mexico and can be easily reached by passenger car. The mesa is on privately owned land and permission to collect must be obtained by stopping at the ranch home of Pete and Faye Gaines which is directly south of the mesa.